SCAR XXXVII Paper 08: Near-term Variability and Prediction of the Antarctic Climate System (AntClimNow) Popular

XXXVII SCAR Delegates Meeting
5-7 September 2022, Goa, India

SCAR XXXVII Paper 08: Near-term Variability and Prediction of the Antarctic Climate System (AntClimNow)

Agenda Item: 4.1.1
Person Responsible: Tom Bracegirdle
Report Authors: Tom Bracegirdle and Ilana Wainer

Summary

The Antarctic climate system exhibits large variability on annual to multi-decadal timescales, which makes predicting near-term (1-30 years) conditions particularly challenging. The AntClimNow SRP is focussed on quantifying and understanding the recent, current and future near-term state of the Antarctic climate system and impacts and interactions across physical and biological components.

Over the first year and a half the main activities of AntClimNow have been establishing a diverse community of members, planning workshops (taking place mid-late 2022), and refining and implementing core ongoing products/activities. During the first year (2020) a key ECR activity was logo competition which generated a large number of applications and helped to foster early awareness of AntClimNow. To promote scientific discussion an online talk series was established and slowly expanded from an initial Steering Committee focus to become a more open community-wide initiative. A launch and planning event in June 2021 set the stage for a wide range of activities that are taking place in 2022. These include:

• Continuation of the AntClimNow science talk series.
• Two scientific workshops
• Support of an Antarctic-focussed session at an international conference
• An Antarctic data stewardship and development scheme.
• Formulation and initial drafting of core ongoing AntClimNow products/activities, for example the annual science update and Antarctic Climate Indicators.

Details of which are provided in this report.

Spending was low during 2021 both due to Covid-19 impacts and lead time for event planning. In 2022 this has balanced out with the majority of the 2021 and 2022 allocated budget gratefully used for the above-listed activities.

The AntClimNow Steering Committee would like to thank SCAR for the excellent support provided and the opportunity to develop and implement such an exciting international research programme.